Court Advocates To Focus On Abused Children

LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Court Appointed Special Advocates recently formed a new auxiliary to help abused children.

According to CASA President Barbara Weiner, the new branch will be called Friends of CASA.

CASA, which refers both to the national association and individual volunteers, has been representing minors' interests in juvenile and family courts across the United States since its founding in Seattle in 1977.

"The abused and neglected children are assigned to the organization by the court system to help judges eventually decide the fate of each child," Weiner said.

"Many people are unable to find the time or work as a volunteer in the environment that would bring them in contact with abused children and their families," Weiner said.

"These people want to participate with CASA because it makes a difference in the lives of children."

CASA volunteers, from police officers to nurses and business executives, work with abused children assigned by court officials.

"There are hundreds of children the organization is assigned to help but cannot do anything with them for lack of both funding and volunteers. Friends of CASA will address this problem by working to better fund the organization and to aid the CASA staff in other areas of strengthening the organization," Weiner said.